Unhinged son Justin Mohn learns fate for decapitating father in live YouTube video
Justin Mohn, 33, murdered and decapitated his father, Michael Mohn, 68, in January 2024 and left the body in their Levittown home, which is a suburb outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After the brutal slaying, Mohn held his father's head in a YouTube video and called for violent attacks against federal officials. His father served in the Army and was a federal employee with the Army Corps of Engineers.
A year and a half later, Mohn has learned his fate for the stomach-churning crimes as Common Pleas Judge Stephen A. Corr delivered the verdict of guilty for first-degree murder on Friday.
Mohn was also convicted of terrorism, marking the first defendant found guilty of the charges in Pennsylvania, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.
In addition, the unhinged son was convicted of possession of a weapon, criminal use of a communication facility, terroristic threats, defiant trespassing, and abuse of a corpse.
Prosecutors presented evidence, including the YouTube video, which was taken down hours after Mohn posted it, DNA evidence, testimony from over 15 witnesses, the son's handwritten letters from jail confessing to the crime, and a disturbing online search history.
'This case is about how Justin Mohn assassinated his father and callously used him as a prop to force the government to meet his demands,' Deputy District Attorney Ashley Towhey said in her opening statements.
Powerful testimonies
Mohn's mother, Denice, delivered a powerful testimony in court, noting that her husband was a loving and supportive father to their children.
Denice found her husband's 'crumpled' body in their home after she returned from work on January 30.
She screamed when she saw her dead husband, prompting neighbor Jim Carnley to run to the home.
Carnley made the grim discovery that Michael was decapitated and called 911. The audio was played in court and revealed the disturbing screams from Denice in the background.
When Middletown Township Police arrived on the scene, they found the decapitated head in the bathroom with a machete and a large knife nearby.
An autopsy later revealed that Michael was first shot in the head before he was decapitated. There were no signs of defensive injuries.
'I am tortured at knowing what Justin was capable of doing to his father, who had unconditional love for him,' Denice's victim impact statement read.
'I hope Justin is never given another opportunity in his life to hurt anyone else or to distribute his hateful ideologies.'
She testified that her son struggled to find employment, so she and her husband allowed him to stay in her home.
Denice added that Mohn blamed the federal government for his inability to hold down a job.
Mohn's sister, Stephanie, read a victim impact statement before his sentencing, telling the court, 'My whole family feels violated by the defendant's extremely calculated and premeditated betrayal and from the posting of the horrifying video that he published online for thousands to see.'
'The awareness that my own brother is capable of such atrocities is terrifying; that person we grew up with is long gone.'
Mohn's brother, Zachary, spoke to his parents' 'strong set of values' and said that they consistently provided for their children.
'For him to target my father despite of all that compassion showed he did not care what he did to the world or to others,' Zachary said.
'Any show of remorse would be an appeal to emotions he doesn't feel, beyond them being used as a lever for his manipulation.'
Shocking evidence
Evidence was presented in court to demonstrate Mohn's violent intentions and premeditation.
First Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka stated in his closing arguments that Mohn's disturbing pattern of violence extended beyond the chilling YouTube video.
Letters found at the crime scene and an online history detailing extremist beliefs were used to illustrate Mohn's 'calculated intent.'
Bucks County Detective Eric Landamia testified that investigators found evidence that Mohn was planning a violent attack for five years.
Detectives found a 'battle plan' belonging to Mohn that included instructions for building explosives and a list of potential targets he believed were 'traitors.'
The explosive evidence detailed Mohn's sick intentions to target federal judges and politicians who went against his agenda as a 'white, straight, Christian male.'
A shocking 'to-do list' was also presented in the trial, where Mohn directly referenced killing his father.
The YouTube video was played in court, revealing Mohn's unhinged grievances against the government.
He claimed that he was the leader of 'Mohn's Militia' and called for a 'revolution,' inciting violence against federal employees.
Mohn's defense
Mohn testified in the trial, claiming that he didn't mean to kill his father, but only wanted to perform a citizen's arrest.
He said that his father committed treason against his country. Mohn said that the altercation escalated when his father threatened to kill him.
He did confess to shooting his father and using a kitchen knife and a machete to decapitate Michael on the stand.
Prosecutors dismissed his defense, with First Assistant District Attorney Edward Louka calling Mohn's testimony 'complete and utter nonsense.'
'He [Mohn] ambushed his dad when he was most vulnerable … he walked in and executed him,' Louka argued.
'His plan was to murder a longtime federal employee, his father, and order the murder of other federal employees for his warped belief that the government adopt his policies above all else.'
Mohn was given an opportunity to show remorse, but he declined, blaming his failures once again on the federal government.
'I don't feel guilty for what I did, but I am sorry my family went through what they did because of the federal government's actions and my reaction to it,' he said.
Mohn also gave a cryptic warning to Judge Corr, telling him that he would be judged when he met God.
After the verdict, Mohn said it was 'not the outcome I wanted, but it's okay,' Levittown Now reported.
Mohn's defense attorney, Steve Jones, spoke to reporters outside the courtroom. He called the facts of the case 'horrendous.'
'But the key takeaway is that Justin is still alive,' Jones said, adding that the defense team prevented the prosecution from seeking the death penalty.
During the trial, Jones slipped a note to Mohn, prompting the haphazard apology on the stand.
When asked whether Jones pushed Mohn to apologize, the defense attorney replied, 'Whether or not he was going to apologize for anything, any remorse that he might've felt, that was up to Justin, and Justin made his feelings known in court.'
Jones told reporters that Mohn was 'serious about everything he did.' He said that his team would continue to represent Mohn if he decides to appeal the decision.
Jones praised Judge Corrs and said the defense respected the court's decision. He added that Mohn has 'some real mental health issues.'
'The conviction of Justin Mohn closes a dark chapter, but the scars left by his monstrous actions will undoubtedly remain,' District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said in a statement.
'This conviction reflects the tireless efforts of law enforcement and our dedicated prosecution team, who meticulously pieced together the layers of this disturbing case to ensure accountability for these horrific crimes,' the statement continued.
'While we cannot undo the pain inflicted, we hope this verdict provides some measure of justice and closure for Michael Mohn's family.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
35 minutes ago
- The Independent
Peter Falconio's killer did not disclose location of body before dying
The killer of British backpacker Peter Falconio did not reveal where the remains of his victim are prior to his death, according to police in Australia. Bradley John Murdoch was convicted in 2005 of murdering Mr Falconio, 28, and assaulting his girlfriend Joanne Lees at gunpoint on a remote stretch of road near Barrow Creek in Australia's Northern Territory on July 14 2001. Mr Falconio and Ms Lees, both from Yorkshire, were travelling across the country in a camper van when they were ambushed by Murdoch on the Stuart Highway, an isolated road that runs through the centre of Australia. Murdoch was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 28 years. Murdoch, 67, was diagnosed with terminal throat cancer in 2019 and was moved to palliative care from Alice Springs Correctional Centre last month, according to local media reports. The Northern Territory Department of Corrections confirmed that Murdoch died in hospital in Alice Springs. A spokesperson said: 'The death will be subject to investigation by the Northern Territory Coroner. 'No further comment at this time.' Northern Territory Police Force said Murdoch did not provide any fresh information about the location of Mr Falconio's body prior to his death. In a statement the force said: 'The Northern Territory Police Force acknowledges the death of Bradley John Murdoch, the man convicted of the 2001 murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio near Barrow Creek. 'It is deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains. 'His silence has denied the Falconio family the closure they have so long deserved. 'Our thoughts are with the Falconio family in the United Kingdom, whose grief continues.' The statement continued: 'The Northern Territory Police Force remains committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation. 'We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio's remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem. 'A reward of up to 500,000 Australia dollars (£243,650) is available to anyone providing information that leads to the discovery of Peter Falconio's remains.' Mr Falconio and Ms Lees had been driving near the tiny settlement of Barrow Creek, around 188 miles north of Alice Springs, when Murdoch pulled up beside them claiming to have seen sparks coming from their van. He shot Mr Falconio in the head as he inspected the vehicle, before forcing Ms Lees into his vehicle and binding her wrists with cable ties. She managed to escape, hiding in the Outback for hours before flagging down a passing truck. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Murdoch was likely to have disposed of the backpacker's body somewhere in the vast, remote expanse of desert between Alice Springs and Broome, covering more than 1,200 miles. Despite repeated searches, Mr Falconio's body has never been found. Ms Lees, who returned to the UK, told Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes in 2017 that she still wanted to 'bring him home'. 'Pete lost his life on that night, but I lost mine too,' she said at the time. 'I'll never be fully at peace if Pete's not found, but I accept that that is a possibility.' Murdoch lodged several unsuccessful appeals over the years, with Australia's highest court refusing to hear his case in 2007.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home
An American Idol TV executive and her husband have been found dead in their LA home. Robin Kaye was a music supervisor on the long-running reality TV series. The bodies of the 70-year-old and her husband Thomas were discovered after officers conducted a welfare check at their home. Both had died from gunshot wounds. Detectives say Raymond Boodarian has been arrested in connection with their deaths. It is alleged the 22-year-old had burgled their property while they were away on 10 July - killing the couple upon their return. According to Los Angeles Police, there were "no signs of forced entry or trouble" at the property. Ms Kaye was an industry veteran - and had previously worked on shows including Lip Sync Battle and The Singing Bee, as well as several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. In a statement, an American Idol spokesperson said: "Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Workmate claims alleged killer planned to 'roofie' murder victim after she broke up with him
An accused murderer planned to drug his ex-girlfriend and crash her in a car so he could scare her out of taking their house, one of his workmates claims. Benjamin O'Keefe told the Victorian Supreme Court that Lachlan Young shared his plan to harm his former partner Hannah McGuire on April 2, 2024. 'He started talking about wanting to roofie Hannah and take her out bush and scare her so she wouldn't take the house and other things from him,' Mr O'Keefe said in evidence on Tuesday. Mr O'Keefe claimed Young asked him to act as a getaway driver, which he ultimately declined after speaking to his girlfriend. Two days later, Mr O'Keefe said he received another message from Young asking him to meet at a nearby corner at midnight. Mr O'Keefe told the jury he went to the designated spot without his phone but Young wasn't there so he returned home. He then heard a car horn and went to his front lawn to see Young waiting inside an orange Mitsubishi Triton. Mr O'Keefe told the jury he did not look inside the ute and instead just obeyed Young's instructions to follow behind in his vehicle. He claimed they went out to remote bushland where Young drove the Triton into some trees and then ordered Mr O'Keefe to turn his car around. Young then used a yellow blow torch to set fire to the front of the Triton, Mr O'Keefe told the jury. After holding the blowtorch there for a few minutes, it's alleged Young then returned to Mr O'Keefe's car but told him to wait a minute. '(We were) just watching the car to make sure it caught on fire,' Mr O'Keefe told the jury. 'That's what Lachie wanted.' Mr O'Keefe claimed Young gave him $45 after the incident although he never explained why. Young is accused of murdering Ms McGuire in the early hours of April 5, before driving her body in the Triton to remote bushland and setting the ute alight. The 23-year-old has admitted to killing Ms McGuire but denies the charge of murder, claiming her death was a spontaneous and unplanned incident. In his opening address, defence barrister Glenn Casement told the jury they should be critical of Mr O'Keefe's evidence, saying he was not a credible witness. Mr Casement is expected to cross-examine Mr O'Keefe on Wednesday after senior crown prosecutor Kristie Churchill finishes her questioning. Lifeline 13 11 14
